Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 8, 1933. y l Q MUFFLY 1,921,576

REFRIGERATING APARATUS l Filed March 5. 1931 Patented Aug. 8,I 1933 PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Glenn Muily, Richmond, Mich., assignor to Copeland Products, Inc., a Corporation of Michigan Application March 5, 1931. Serial No. 520,335

9 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerators and particularly to refrigerators of the self-contained type wherein a cooling unit is provided in a chamber and connected'by suitable tubing to a heat dissipating unit mounted exteriorly thereof.

I n my co-pending application, Serial No. 196,164, led June 3, 1927, and assignedv to the assignee of the present invention, I have disclosed a self-contained refrigerator having a plurality of chambers in one of which a cooling unit is provided and connected by means of tubing, to a heat dissipating uit in an adjoining chamber. I have provided a slot in the front edge of a partition which separates the cabinet 4into the aforementioned chambers, wherein the tubing is recessed to permit the closing members for the chambers to register with the outer surface of the partition. When providing such a slot for recessing the tubing, I employed a packing member which snugly fitted about the outer surface of the tubing and the inner surface of the slot to prevent an interchange of heat therethrough.

In practicing my present invention, I provide a finished strip along the front edge of the partition between the chambers to retain the packing member in the slot in rm relation to its walls and the surface of the tubing. This construction .is novel in providing an unbroken edge along the outer surface of the partition against which the door flange abuts at all points throughout its length, to assure that a minimum loss of heat ensues about the chamber opening. The nish strip is removable to permit the removal of the packing and the tube from within the slot when the refrigerating units are to be Withdrawn from their chambers.

Accordingly, one object of my invention is to provide a slot for recessing tubing in a partition which separates connected refrigerating units, the front edge of which is provided with a removable finish strip to enclose the edge of the partition and the slot.

Another object of my invention is to provide a partition of the above mentioned type having a tubing and a packing member recessed in a slot, with a finish strip for the edge of the partition which is in contiguous relation with the front edge of a chamber.

A further objectof my invention is to provide a refrigerator of the above mentioned type, having a partition which extends within a short distance of the front of the refrigerator cabinet, with a removable member provided with a slot which is attachable to the partitions in continuation thereof to constitute an engaging surface for the closure member of the refrigerator andI to encompass the conductor which connects the apparatus provided on either side of the partition.

A still further object of my invention is to pro-` vide a slot in the partition of a refrigerator` of the above mentioned type, having conductors extending therethrough, with a parking member which is retained in fixed relation to the side walls of the slot and `the conductors by a removable cover which bridges the mouth of the slot.

Numerous other objects and features of novelty, of my invention, will be either specifically pointed out, or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken front view, in elevation, of a refrigerator embodying features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a ectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 ta en along the line 2 2 thereof,

Fig. 3 is a view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-3 thereof,

Fig. 4 is a view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 80 taken along the line 4-4 thereof,

k/Eig. 5 is an enlarged prospective view of a section of the structure illustrated in Figs. 1-4 inclusive showing the preferred embodiment of my invention, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View similar to that of Fig. 5 illustrating a modified form of my invention.

My invention comprises in general a refrigerator 11 comprising a heat insulated compartment 12 having a heat-dissipating space 13 adjacent thereto. A door or cover member 14 which is insulated against the passage of heat, is hinged- 1y attached to the compartment 12' and is provided with a latch 15 to retain the door in air tight relation therewith. A cover 16 is provided for enclosing the heat dissipating space 13 in such manner as to be detachable therefrom.

The cooling unit 10 is provided in the compartment 12 and a heat dissipating unit is provided in the space 13, the preferred form of which units have been clearly set forth in the above mentioned co-pending application. It is to be unde stood, however, that any unit, known in 105 the art be suitable, may be lsubstituted for the units described inthe above mentioned application, as the particular construction and the arrangement of the component parts thereof form no part of my presentA invention.

The refrigerant is supplied from the heat dissipating unit through a delivery tube 17 to the cooling unit 10 and is returned therefrom through a return tube 18 to the heat dissipating unit where it is compressed and cooled in a well known manner to complete the cycle of operation.

When either unit is to be removed from the refrigerator for repair or other purpose, it has been found expedient to 'remove both units to'- gether, along with the connecting tubes 17 and 18 to retain the units and tubes in sealed relation with each other. This arrangement prevents the loss of gas, the corrosion or the roughening of the -joints due to the repeated connection and disconnection of the tubing and at the same time elimlnates the possibility of accumulating a slight amount of moisture within the system which would clog the system by forming ice at the expansion valve.

In my above mentioned copending application, I provide a slot in the partition between the compartment 12 and the space 13 through which the tubes 17 and 18 extend and employ a packing member in the slot which is in contiguous relation with the surface of the tubes and the slot and with a door which encloses the compartment.

To provide a finished edge to the panel separating the compartment, 12 from the space 13, and also to retain the packing member 19 about the tubes 17 and 18, I have provided a modified form of the structure disclosed in the above mentioned co-pending application, which will now be described. j

The refrigerator 11 comprises corner posts 21 between which and surrounding thecompartment 12, a heat insulating material 22 is supported suitable material 23, such as wood, may be employed between the pillars 21 adjacent to the heat dissipating space 13. Metal panels 24 enclose the material 22 and 23, being provided on both the interior and exterior surface thereof, as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the bottom wall of the compartment 12 constitutes a partition 25 between the compartment and the heat dissipating space 13. A slot 26 is provided in the outer edge of the partition through which the tubes 17 and 18 extend and which are tightly engaged by the packing member 19 which fits snugly within the slot. The front edge of the partition 25 is offset rearwardly a 'slight distance from the front surface of the front corner post 21 for the purpose of receiving a metal finish strip 27 which is removably attached to the front end of the partition 25.

While I have described the strip 27 as being made of metal, it is to be understood that any other material or a combination thereof may be substituted therefor, such as wood or a wood base having a metal panel thereabout as shown in Fig. 6. The strip 27 constitutes a continuation .of the surface of the corner posts 21 and provides a surface for receiving the iiange of the door to constitute an air-tight joint therewith.

The strip 27 engages the front portion of the packing member 19 and forces it into firm engagement with the tubes 17 and 18 and the inner surface of the slot 26. The strip retains the packing member and the tubes in fixed position within the slot and prevents the movement of the em: bersinwardly and outwardly thereof when the door is being closed or open.

I have shown a modifledform of my invention in Fig. 6, in which the finish strip 28 is similar to that illustratedin Fig. 5 with the exception that the strip is of considerable greater depth,

being of such a dimension as to contain the slot 26 for enclosing the packing material 19 and the tubes 17 and 18. In this construction, the wall or partition 25 is provided without a slot and is offset from the front surface of the corner post 21 a greater distance than that of the portion illustrated in Fig. 5 to be capable of receiving the finish strip 28 of greater depth which is attached thereto in such manner as to have the front surface thereof retained in'continuous relation to the front surface of the corner post.

It will thus be seen that in either form of my invention the delivery and the return tubes for the unit are retained infixed position adjacent to a wall or a partition through which they extend. The retaining meais is removably attached to the partition and is supported in such manner as to constitute a continuation of the frontsurface of the refrigerator cabinet to thereby constitute a jamb against which the face of the door may be sealed. In either form, the tubes are easily removable along with the units by the removal of the finish strip.

While I have described and illustrated but two forms of my invention, it will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that many changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a heatinsulated compartment having a cooling unit removably positioned therein, a heat-dissipating unit removably mounted adjacent to said compartment, conduits connecting said units through an open sided slot in one wall of said compartment, a packing member provided about the conduit and encompassed by the side wall of the slot and a finish strip removably retained on the front edge of said wall in such manner as to constitute a continuation of the front surface of the compartment. v

2. 'A refrigerator cabinet provided with a heatinsulated compartment having a cooling unit removably positioned therein, a heat-dissipating unit removably mounted` adjacent .to said compartment, conduits connecting said units through an open sided slot in one wall of said compartment, a removable member filling the space in the slot between said conduits and the side Walls thereof and a finish strip covering the front edge of said wall engaging said removable member in such manneras to'position said member in the slot.

3. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a heatinsulated compartment having a cooling unit removably positioned therein, a heat-dissipating unit removably mounted adjacent to said compartment, aconduit connecting said units through a vslot in one wall of said compartment, a finish strip enclosing said slot removably associated with said partition and a removable member filling the space in the slot between the conduit and the side Walls thereof.

4. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a. heatinsulated compartment having a cooling unit removably positioned therein, a heat dissipating unit mounted adjacent to said compartment, conduits connecting the two units and extending from the compartment through a space provided by a foreshortened wall thereof, a member surrounding and engaging said conduits at the plane of said wall and a finish strip in the plane of said wall and havingv a slot therein registering with said member for tightly engaging the member and the conduit when the strip is mounted in extended relation to said wall the outer edge of said nish strip when so mounted forming a continuous portion of the outer surface of said cabinet.

5. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a heatinsulated compartment having a cooling unit removably positioned therein, delivery and return conduits extending from said units to a heat-dissipating unit mounted exterior of said compartment said conduit'extending through a slot in a wall of said compartment, a member for enclosing said conduits extending on either side of said wall and a nish strip attachable to the edge of said wall and detachable from said member for covering said enclosing member. r

6. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a heatinsulated compartment having a cooling unit removably positioned therein, a heat-dissipating unit removably mounted adjacent to the compartment, conduits joining said two units and extending through a slot in the wall of said compartment, a detachable member for encompassing both said conduits and extending from one side of said wall to another'and a finish strip detachably covering the edge of said Wall and retaining said encompassing member Within the slot.

7. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a heat insulated compartment having a closure opening, the edge face of one of the compartment walls being inwardly offset with respect to the same edge faces of the remaining Walls, and having a slot therein, a cooling unit in the compartment, a heat dissipating unit exteriorLv of the compartment, a conduit connecting the units and extending through the slot, a packing member for lling the slot around the conduit, and a iinish strip removably secured to the offset edge face of the rst mentioned wall, and presenting an exterior surface in the plane of the same edge faces of the remaining walls, said packing member being removable as an entity from the slot when the finish strip is removed.

8. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a heat insulated compartment having a closure opening, the edge face of one of the compartment walls being inwardly offset with respect to the same edge faces of the remaining Walls, and having a slot therein, a cooling unit in the compartment, a heat dissipating unit exteriorly of the compartment, a conduit connecting the units and extending through the slot, a packing member for filling the slot around the conduit, and a nish strip removably secured to the o'set edge face of the rst mentioned wall, and presenting an exterior surface in the plane of the same edge faces of the remaining walls, said finish strip providing a smooth surface for engagement with sealing means on a. closure for the compartment opening.

9. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a heat insulated compartment having a closure opening, 100 the edge face of one of the compartment walls being inwardly oset with respect to the same edge faces of the remaining Walls, a nish strip removably secured to the offset edge face of the `first mentioned wall, and having a slot therein. a

cooling unit in the compartment, a. heat dissipatingA unit exteriorly of the compartment, a conduit connecting the units and extending through the slot, said finish strip having its outer surface in the plane of the same edge faces of the remaining walls of the compartment and extending from one side to another of said cabinet.

GLENN 'MUFFLY. 

